Trade Secrets! Newsletter

Titebond or hide glue? Hot glue or bottled? Dan Erlewine uses three glues for this repair, and each has different properties. He explains why one glue can't cover all the bases. And he's created some pretty interesting cauls for clamping this job together while it dries!

Good glue but ignore the label!

The label on the Behlen can says to mix this glue in equal weights of dry glue and water at a 1:1 ratio. That's just plain wrong -- and the result of that formulation is viscous, unusable goo. Follow Dan's directions in the accompanying short video and you'll get excellent results.

Hide glue

Ok, first follow the instructions and watch Dan's video. I got a thermostatically controlled hot plate, a new pot for water, a small mason jar, and also a cooking thermometer. I hooked it all up, premixed my glue and warmed it to 140 degrees, then let it set over night and reheated it. Wow it works great. Easy clean up, also used a small soldering brush to apply. I will be using it from now on I'm sold, and it works great. Thanks Dan.